Caps @ Maple Leafs 3-24-2009 Post-Mortem

Drip, drip, drip... Or is it limp, limp, limp??? Onto the Battle Damage Assessment...

THE GOOD:

• First of all, props to Jose "Alvin, Simon," Theodore who once again turned in a stellar performance that earned this team a point tonight. We can honestly say that the problems right now is not so much the goaltending as it is the offense that can't seem to get anything going.
• And for an offense going nowhere, A.O. is the only Caps to have a hand in both goals tonight. His 51st goal and 45th assist on the season moves him to two points behind Kelly Miller for 13th on the Caps All-Time Scoring list. If this guy isn't the MVP, then there is something wrong with the NHL voting system because without him, this Caps offense would be in deep trouble and the team could not afford to be on cruise control heading into the playoffs.
• Last year Brooks "and Dunn" Laich had a pretty lengthy quote/point about scoring goals. Tonight he took his own advice and tied the game up. Skating mostly on the third line tonight, it was the first time we saw anybody that line or the fourth line attempt to crash the net and create some havoc.

THE BAD:

• It would be one thing for the Caps to come out strong, take an early 2-0, 3-0 lead and try to cruise for the rest of the game but once again, the Caps come out in first period looking to cruise in a 0-0 game. What happened to the quick strike capability?
• Mike "BEAM ME UP" Green was the top shooter for the Caps tonight with 10 shots on goal. This is bad because it means that the forwards weren't getting the puck on net. This wasn't like the Nashville game where the Predators packed everybody behind the circles leaving the points wide open.
• If the Caps couldn't establish a forecheck they were also unable to breakout of their own zone. For whatever reason, we end up getting pressured for long periods of time by teams with lesser talent.

THE UGLY:

• The game was decided by a gimmick.
• Can we please put the discussion of goal celebrations to rest please? We agree with all of those who are saying that this whole thing is overblown.
• We once again nominate Tom Poti for benching as Brian Pothier was given the night off because his season started just 8 days ago. But Poti also wins tonight's John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles Bonehead Play of the Game Award for his playing the puck back to Erskine Bowles behind the goal in the second period. The slow-footed and dim-witted defenseman was predictably unable to overcome the two Toronto forecheckers who stripped him of the puck. The puck ended up in the goal behind Theodore as Phil Oreskovic's shot bounced off Erskine Bowles' leg off the turnover that was really forced by Poti's ill advised back pass.

We have to admit folks, we stole this point tonight. For once a bad call went our way as a very slow whistle gave Laich enough time to push Martin Gerber into the goal with the puck. Referees Mike Leggo and Steve Kozari called a weird game tonight and really should have waived off the tying goal but then again; they shouldn't have made the call on Erskine Bowles late in the third period either. Maybe it is the flu bug that has been running through the entire organization and we certainly hope that it is because we are tired of saying "the Caps need to figure this out before the playoffs start." Once again, very little traffic in front and hardly any rebound chances. What makes it the most frustrating is that it was only the first line for a few minutes in the second period that started to create havoc in front of the net. The third and fourth lines need to start leading the charge in that department. Until they do, expect more of the same.